The Washington critic., 1887-10-28
AGAINST TIE TRACKS.
Residents in the southeast Do No
want Them.

want lncms
The occupation Of the public streets
by railroad tracks has never before re-
celved so much attention from the
property owners and the authorities as
at present. The Commissioners to-day
received the following petition from the
property owners and residents of South.
east Washington, setting out their
grievances against the Baltimore and
Potomac road
Tohe Honorable Commissioners, Dbric, Of
Columbia.
GENTLEMEN: Believing that you are uu-
aware Of the condition OF affairs existing In
the section Of the city bordering the tracks
Of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company, by reason OF the Illegal occupa-
tion OF Government ground, with numerous
side tracks, we, the undersigned citizens and
property holders, respectfully call your at
tention TO few OF the many annoyances oc
cHsoned by the location Of the said tracks
believing that, II In your power, you will
take steps towards abating, or at least mod
flying, so great nuisance and annoyance.
BY reason Of this unlawful occupation Of
Government land, the inhabitants 10 this 10.
cality, between Fifth street, East and South
Capitol streets, are subjected, daily and
nightly, to the following annoyances:
First-By the rattle and humping Of
freight cars.
Secondly the constant pulling aud
blowing off OF steam from engines.
Third-By the blocking OF intersectlng
streets by freight trains.
Fourth-By the almost constant "mak-
ing up" and shifting OF freight cars.
Fifth-By the bleatlng of sheep and low
Ing OF cattle In cars which are permitted to
stand on the tracks during the "making
up OF trains.
Sixth-By the stopping OF engines on the
track, and the shouting and loud talk OF
the train hands during oil hours OF the
night, all OF which continues to grow
worse.
While these aunoyances are very great
during the day, they become simply unen-
durable In the pight, preventing people
from obtaining regular and needed rest, and
| causing torture to the sick.
We also desire to call your attention to the
| grade OF the said road, 1t being much higher
than the grade at Second aud Third
streets, causing the water, during heavy
rain falls, to back up at Third street and
overflow the pavements, sometimes to q
depth OF eighteen inches.
We further desire to call your attention
to engine No. 3l4. This engine is but little
better than q wreck, and Is q constant
menace to the lives Of the citizens OF this
neglected spot, and is capable Of making
double the noise an engine should make.
We ask Its removal.
The main tracks, between Second and
Fourth streets, are used day and night In
making up and shifting freight cars.
While your petitioners fully recognize all
legal rights OF the said company, they feel
that they are not compelled to suffer the
daily and nightly torture inflicted upon
them by reason Of the unlawful occupation
| OF Government land, by this company, and
therefore your petitioners come to you
| praying for such relief as you may in your
| judgment grant them.
The following names are signed to
the petition
E. ]. Nottingham, Thomas E. johnson. VIM
II. Magnnis, S. 4. Tabler, f. NJ. Ferguson,
James S. Breast, William j. McDermott, Il.
o. Jones, j. NJ. Mercer, James +. Walsh, d A
Henderson, A. T. Boswell, NJ. Z. Jones. C.
Worthington, z. Williams, A. V. Talbert. L.
Nottingham, b Nanfeet, j. I. Harrison, j. L.
Bright, William Davis, j. D. Cornell, A. d.
Cheseldine, A. Brown, A. A. Columbus, E
Cooke. W. II. Teachum, A. G. Hopkins, O. A
McNelly, j. II. Nottingham. William II Kim.
ball, John W. Lomax, W.. W. Nottingham,
Richard Perry, William Gosser, j. Q. Walker,
j. G. Moller, Andrew Neville, Henry Schults,
e, w. Brooks, w. A. Cooper, William d
MutChingson.